The 2018 S5 with the 3.0T EA839 V6 is generally solid, but suffers from catastrophic engine failures tied to piston ring land cracking and bearing issues—problems that can grenade an otherwise low-mileage engine. When it happens, it's rebuild or replacement territory.
Piston Ring Land Cracking / Bearing Failure (EA839 Engine)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden oil consumption spike (quart every 500-1,000 mi), Metallic knocking or rod knock at idle, Low oil pressure warning, Metal flakes in oil during change, Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300-series)
Fix: Piston ring lands crack under heat/detonation stress, leading to oil burning and eventual bearing starvation. Requires full engine rebuild or short block replacement. 25-35 labor hours for removal, tear-down, machine work, reassembly, and reinstall. Some shops opt for factory reman short block to save time.
Estimated cost: $12,000-18,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission slipping or harsh shifts, Milky or discolored transmission fluid, Coolant in trans pan or trans fluid in coolant reservoir, Overheating or limp mode
Fix: Internal cooler in the radiator fails, allowing coolant and ATF to mix—destroys the ZF 8-speed if not caught early. Requires radiator replacement, complete trans fluid flush (multiple fills), and often new torque converter and valve body if contamination is severe. 6-10 hours labor depending on damage extent.
Estimated cost: $1,800-4,500
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk on acceleration or deceleration, Vibration at idle in gear, Excessive driveline movement felt through shifter or cabin
Fix: Hydraulic trans mount tears or leaks fluid, allowing excessive powertrain movement. Replacement is straightforward—support trans, unbolt old mount, install new. 1.5-2.5 hours labor. OEM parts strongly recommended over aftermarket.
Estimated cost: $400-700
High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Long crank / hard start, especially when hot, Rough idle or stumbling under load, Limp mode with fuel pressure fault codes (P0087, P0088), Fuel smell in oil (pump internal leak)
Fix: HPFP on intake cam lobe can fail internally, contaminating oil with fuel or starving the direct injection system. Requires pump replacement, cam follower inspection, and oil/filter change. If cam lobe is worn, add camshaft replacement. 3-5 hours labor for pump alone, 8-12 if cam is damaged.
Estimated cost: $1,200-3,500
Carbon Build-Up on Intake Valves
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle, misfires at cold start, Loss of power, sluggish throttle response, Increased fuel consumption, Check engine light with multiple misfire codes
Fix: Direct injection means no fuel washing over intake valves—carbon cakes up. Walnut blasting is the fix: remove intake manifold, blast each port with crushed walnut media. 4-6 hours labor. Should be done as preventive maintenance every 60-80k mi.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Coolant Pipe / Thermostat Housing Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant smell in cabin or under hood, Visible coolant seepage on passenger side of engine, Low coolant warning light, Overheating in severe cases
Fix: Plastic coolant pipes and thermostat housing crack with age and heat cycles. Requires removal of intake components for access, replacement of failed pipes/housing, and coolant system refill/bleed. 3-5 hours labor depending on which pipes are leaking.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500
Owner tips
Check oil level every 1,000 miles religiously—early warning of ring/bearing issues is critical.
Walnut blast intake valves every 60-80k mi to prevent carbon misfire problems.
Inspect transmission fluid color at every service; milky fluid = stop driving immediately.
Use quality full-syn 5W-40 oil and change every 5,000 mi max to protect those pistons.
Get a pre-purchase inspection with oil analysis and compression test if buying used—engine failures can be sudden and expensive.
Beautiful to drive, but the engine grenade risk (especially under 80k mi) makes this a gamble unless you have a solid warranty or deep pockets for a potential rebuild.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: AGM battery required for start-stop system; battery located under rear cargo floor
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Every control module on the 2017-2026 Audi S5 — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ Optional equipment. Qi wireless charging. Minimal coding typically required.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 19V547000
2019-07-24
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.
Performance
Horsepower
354hp
Torque
369lb-ft
0–60 mph
4.4sec
Quarter mile
12.9sec
Top speed
155mph
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
21mpg
Highway
30mpg
Combined
24mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
Curb weight
3,990lb
EPA class
Subcompact Cars
Wiper blades
B9 generation coupe, no rear wiper. New platform with different wiper sizes
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2018 Audi S5 3.0L Turbo V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.